Iraqi orchestra to perform in Washington

WASHINGTON — Iraq's National Symphony Orchestra will hold a concert with its American counterpart and cellist Yo-Yo Ma in Washington, as part of a U.S. State Department-sponsored cultural exchange program, the Kennedy Center said Monday.

"They're incredibly dedicated musicians and we're very excited about them coming here," Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser said. "The role of learning about people through art is central."

Kaiser last week visited Iraq as part of a State Department-sponsored delegation that met with Iraq's art leaders and organizations.

The concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, scheduled for Dec. 9, will be free to the public. The program will include Iraqi traditional pieces, as well as Western classical music.